Unions have a performance standard, non-union does not. They have a contract stating exactly what work to perform. No-union places will expect you to do whatever they want. I tell them to shove it when they want me to work outside my job. Non-union companies will even ask you to perform work and not pay you for it. How stupid can you be?

all that having been said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
JIMMY HOFFA AND THE TEAMSTERS FOREVER.
if not for him and the increased wages, scabs wouldnt make enough to pay for the internet service to post your spew.

JOIN OR LEARN SPANISH. I HAVE SPOKEN. DISCUSSION CLOSED NOW.

Well, my only experience with unions is with a particularly weak Union. But I can say this, I did my job for many years outside of that Union and inside it. I not able to say that the "performance" or skill of the workers was any different, I believe that for my trade, that is a crock of bullcrap. But I do know a guy that is a union man for 20 years and he works for the city of Milwaukee. He is the most jaded slacker you will ever meet. As cynical as the day is long. He has a complete get over mentality. The kind of guy that let Uncle Sam pay for his brat to go to school and then went out and bought a $10,000 pontoon boat the following spring. To me, THAT IS THE UNION MENTALITY. Screw the man and anyone else that happens to expect you to do anything above your current level of effort.

That is why there is so much turnover, abuse of employees. What is more abusive than not paying people for the work they did? They will have you go make a delivery from a terminal in Laredo, then make a pick up and you will have made zero money, yet you have driven for an hour and sit on docks for 3 hours. They say it is zero miles from Laredo to Laredo, LOL.

I've gotten the shaft too many times at docks on the East coast by guys wearing Teamster jackets to feel any sympathy for them. If they had treated me a little better, I might have some sympathy, but as it stands they reap what they sow.

union philosophy-don't work yourself out of a job!

The Eastern Conference is a world into its own.Don't know much about that side. Now when I Have worked the dock (freight) a couple of times other trucks (non-union buy the way) have come in when we were loading our out bound freight. There load shifted and I stopped to reload his trailer, and asked him how he wanted it loaded/also provided blocking material. That's what other fellow truckers do for each other.

Union trucking has fared no better. We've watched several big players close their doors, and while de-regulation can be cited as a key factor, it doesn't tell the whole story. One mega giant has emerged from the pack in the LTL segment, and while they thrive today, it may not be long before that changes, if smaller carriers keep entering the LTL market. It's happening.

People like a bargain. Even the union worker's themselves, when they shop for things they need, will not waste a buck, if it can be saved. Price is a big mover and shaker. Most people will make their purchasing decisions, based on the cost.

When freight is contracted, shippers seek the best service, for the best price. Unions no longer hold the high esteem that they once held. Most people outside of the union environment have clued into the fact that this is the new norm, and a fact of life. Union workers still like to think that they are the best at what they do, and that there is no substitute. That's simply no longer the case.

Truck drivers see it when they hit a union warehouse. Shippers and receivers see it when they do business with trucking companies. We all see it when we look at the education our children receive in the public schools.

People of all kinds are tired of that common line often quoted time and again;

"Hey...that's not part of my job description."

It's too easy nowadays to find someone that thinks that it is, and forgive me, but that just plain pisses of union workers to no end.


Turbo you said it best. If you take a good look you have the "UNION" trucking companies. YRC (yellow roadway) Big union teamsters company, the company is having trouble convincing the union that things are rough right now. Union did not want to hear that. So Big Union Company YRC did the only thing they could purchased a non union company. So when the teamsters decide to strike guess what YRC does a huge recruiting campaign and hires non union drivers to pick up the slack, so while the teamsters are collecting their strike pay. Which I understand only lasts about 3 or so years. YRC does not have to do anything, because they will not need the teamsters anymore.

Do not like that lets look at UPS so scene, they also own a NON UNION company that can within 7 days of a teamster walk out(STRIKE) hire enough drivers to pick up the slack. So the teamsters need to take a BIG step back get the heads out of their ###$# and understood the world economy dictates us now not the U. S. economy.

Greyhound bus company yep they are still on strike, just ask the union office in memphis tenn. about 15 yrs now. Company bought several non-union bus lines (Jefferson, TNM, Trailways) oh by the way all non union whose drivers are now driving the greyhound buses.

Unions are a very good thing if they are well managed, held accountable for the actions of the higher ups. Best example I can think of is IBEW and the Maintenace of Way unions for the Railroads. Dad retired from the railroad so I do have a very good understanding of how they operate.

Railroad says this is what we can afford, union says OK, but we what this and this and this in exchange for the pay freeze. After alittle more talking both sides reach a decent agreement, GEE only took 4 days. Everybody is HAPPY and WORKING.

Thanks for listening off my soapbox for now

The UAW has very little to do even in concept to the offerings of the Teamsters...


The Teamsters have a working partnership with their companies - The UAW has grossly overpaid screwdriver weilding yay-hoos making 40 bucks an hour.

I know UAW members who try and screw up their jobs -

I have yet to meet a Teamster who wrecks his truck to show the company "whos boss"


think about it

glad you enjoyed my quip..


something no one has touched on is the fact that it all boils down to accountability in management -

where is supervision when guys (union and non) are slacking off...????

where are the supervisors on the dock when someone is goofing off?

Several of you have allready stated your belief that the unions are weak and have no say - so what is stopping the companies from cracking down on sorriness?


I spoke with a buddy of mine tonight who is leased on to United van lines - I told him about this disscussion - and asked him does he prefer to go to union docks or non union (in regards to trade show moves)...

He said that both union and non union take the same amount of time to load/unload - but the Union guys are much more skilled (and in turn COULD do the job quicker if they wished)... He stated that the non union guys were more apt to damage goods and really not know what they are doing... (apparently forklifting tradeshow goods is pretty tricky and never a straight roll off...


dunno guys - both sides of the fence have faults...


on a another note - regarding "me" being a lazy union driver...

just got back from a chicago turn - via willow 610+ miles today

- now home and ready for bed...


guess my normal routine kinda puts a kink in the assumption that I only work 3 or 4 hours a day huh?


cyall - pillow time